Playing again.

I had hoped for a sunset but it was not to be. So with the K1 I put on the Vivitar 75-205 f3.8 and took a couple across the water at 205mm and f8 on the tripod. Grey sky and the evening lights were just about coming on, overall shots were bland so played with a black and white.
What do ya think? I am liking this lens...

The mono is better since the colours are competing with the pure tones - which are more important here.

Like them both (when viewed large) but as David says the mono appears better, you haven't overdone the conversion and been tempted to give it a contrast boost - the compressed tonal range really helps convey the conditions.

As for the lens, well you're just proving the point that it's the photographer that really matters - you've selected probably the best aperture for capturing the detail on a lens that was well regarded in its day, and produced an image that wouldn't be any/much better with the very latest equivalent offering!

Thank you for the comments chaps.
I will admit to tweaking the contrast on the B/W one. Also, I did own a DFA * 70-200 f2.8 for a short time, and having this cheap steal of a lens I don't miss it - for my level and needs "it's cheap as chips'.
So for £1700'ish ( Pentax DFA lens) as opposed to under £17 all in incl. P & P ( off Fleabay, Vivitar f3.8 75-205 Macro too) it's a no brainer - bit like me lol.

I like them both as well....

But... but maybe....

Being more aggressive with contrast and highlights on the B&W, may create a more striking image. Make it stand out more and draw your eyes from the grey sky.

This where a graduated ND filter would've come in handy!

Thanks Spad, I couldn't increase the contrast anymore without blitzing highlights and shadows, and re. Filters, I used grad f. In pp to lower the light on the water. But being handicapped with SWMBO I have to not mess about, be fast, no time for thinking or fiddling with filters, and she has had MCI diagnosed for a few years now, so I'm almost a full on carer. Very rare I can get out with both camera and tripod, time on PC is also limited due to it being a point of argument. You cannot argue with a person with MCI.

Can't believe my luck, time on the PC.
Here is another play on contrast .....

It's always good to see different versions of images - and as per Spads comments it does stand out more, but it loses the grey day atmosphere of the first image (IMO). But this is where personal preference or style comes in - if you look at many of Spads images they are striking, bold and contrasty (and he is a master of his style) whereas some of mine are less so, perhaps a little "flatter" looking.

Keep taking, keep processing, keep enjoying

And I prefer the coloured one! It reminds me very much of a water-colour painting that an old friend and artist did as a gift for Mrs L and me and is in front of me as I type. He based it on a photo that I'd taken of a grey winter scene with snow, dark bare trees, grey-stone country house and grey sky. He asked our permission to add a subtle bit of colour to the sky and elsewhere. We trusted his judgement (heck, I just take photos, he'd been to art college and had a lifetime in the art business) and it worked brilliantly. For me, the subtle colours in your photo have much the same effect as they do in the painting (and your sky is almost the same colour as his!). I feel sure that he would prefer your colour version too, but I can't check because, alas, he died a few years ago.

MCI - new to me, had to look it up. My utmost sympathy (speaking from some personal experience of similar ).

Steve

Many thanks to Steve and Lennybloke.